The following CWCT publications may be downloaded at no charge by Members. This is a benefit of membership; please do not pass copies to those who are not in membership of CWCT.
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Module D explained - Published May 2025 This document explains how Module D is defined and calculated, and why it is important to consider in whole life carbon assessment. It builds on the previous CWCT publication, ‘Life cycle modules explained’. |
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Understanding EPDs: Guidance for the review and application of EPDs for façade products – Published December 2024 Click on the link above to download new guidance on understanding environmental performance declarations. EPDs appear straightforward, but this is yet another complex area. So much so, that this new guidance builds on an existing short guidance document that we published in 2021. EPDs provide vital data for embodied carbon calculations and therefore it is important to understand how the results have been obtained, the assumptions that have been made, what they cover, and the limitations involved. |
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Embodied carbon methodology - User survey - June 2023 We are keen to receive feedback on our embodied carbon methodology for facades. Your feedback is really important to help us better understand how the methodology is being used, what challenges are being faced, and how it might be improved in the future. Thank you in advance for your views. |
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Facades and the race to net zero - Published December 2022 Reducing the embodied carbon of façade systems is vital as we strive to achieve future net zero carbon requirements. This article explores four facade systems and compares typical baseline and current achievable embodied carbon values with LETI 2030 targets which require a 65% reduction. This is intended to demonstrate the progress that is currently being made and illustrate the efforts still required to remain in line with LETI’s zero carbon trajectory. |
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A brief introduction to ‘How to calculate the embodied carbon of facades: A methodology’ - Published October 2022 In September 2022, CWCT published its first embodied carbon methodology for façade systems. This document briefly describes the inputs, process, and outputs required for facade embodied carbon calculations following the CWCT methodology. |
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Embodied carbon methodology for facades - Published September 2022, Updated February 2023 Click on the link above for further details and to download our embodied carbon methodology for facades. February 2023 update - Revised worked example now available to download. June 2023 - User survey |
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Adaptation - Published September 2022 This article presents a short introduction on how the built environment, with a focus on building envelopes, can support society’s Adaptation to forecasted climate change in the UK to maintain function and remain fit for future expectations. This document aims to encourage the adoption of adaptation strategies into the design of facades within the industry. |
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Balancing embodied and operational carbon - Published September 2022 This article introduces the idea of Carbon Payback Periods (CPP) as a metric for assessing the relative carbon benefits of design decisions whose scope spans both embodied and operational carbon. |
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Life Cycle Modules- Published March 2022 Life cycle modules provide a framework for the reporting of social, economic and environmental impacts of built assets as part of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This paper proposes a consistent interpretation of the life cycle module boundaries for use in the life cycle assessment of façade and cladding systems. |
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Sustainability: Reducing carbon: What can you do now? Published January 2022 The recent COP26 conference in Glasgow has highlighted the need for developed countries to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions this decade. Achieving this will require all stakeholders within the facade and cladding supply chain to act. To this end, this document provides guidance on the steps that each stakeholder can take in the short-term. |
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Sustainability: How to read an EPD- Published December 2021 Environment Product Declarations (EPDs) quantity environmental information on the life cycle of a product, based on results from a complex life cycle assessment (LCA). Great care is required when interpreting the results of an EPD due to variations in the way that they may be produced and the variety of forms that the relevant product may encompass. This short guide highlights some of the key information designers should be aware of when reading an EPD. It should be read in conjunction with CWCT Sustainability Guide 01. |
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Briefing to Sustainability Guide 01- Published November 2021 In October 2021 the CWCT published its first sustainability guidance paper, An introduction to sustainability in facades (SG01). The purpose of that paper is to educate and position the façade industry to meet the challenges of the climate emergency and Net Zero Carbon (NZC) targets set into law in the UK. This briefing note provides a high-level overview to the topics introduced in SG01. |
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Sustainability Guide 01 An Introduction to Sustainability in Façades - Published October 2021 Sustainability is a broad topic encompassing environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, the use of water and other resources, the treatment of waste and many other social and economic factors. This document is the first in a series of Sustainability Guides outlining the issue of sustainability within the façade industry with a focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. |
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Sustainability Climate Jargon Buster - Published October 2021 Meeting the demands of the climate emergency requires all parties within the façade industry to be able to communicate effectively on the topic. To this end, this article provides simple explanations of common sustainability terms and phrases. Where appropriate the source of definitions have been referenced. |